Comments for Arden Theatre Company Blog http://ardentheatre.org/blog News and Info on Arden Theatre Company Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:06:06 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Cyrano Audience Feedback by John from Galloway, NJ http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/03/cyrano-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-26049 John from Galloway, NJ Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:06:06 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1424#comment-26049 My son and I attended Saturday's show and left simply amazed at how great a show this is. I think we expected something a bit quaint and maybe "stodgy" (ie. old), but this was funny and relevant and absolutely entertaining. We're not the most seasoned theater-goers, so perhaps we should have known better, but what fun it was. When act 1 ended, we were both surprised that enough time had even passed. Kudos to all involved. (And especially to the man who played Cyrano - such "panache"! He really made the show.) Thank you My son and I attended Saturday’s show and left simply amazed at how great a show this is. I think we expected something a bit quaint and maybe “stodgy” (ie. old), but this was funny and relevant and absolutely entertaining. We’re not the most seasoned theater-goers, so perhaps we should have known better, but what fun it was. When act 1 ended, we were both surprised that enough time had even passed. Kudos to all involved. (And especially to the man who played Cyrano – such “panache”! He really made the show.) Thank you

]]> Comment on Cyrano Audience Feedback by Dawn Dimmerman http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/03/cyrano-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-26035 Dawn Dimmerman Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:58:58 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1424#comment-26035 We LOVED Cyrano! The acting was superb, the choreography of the fencing scenes was Most impressive and the play itself was delightful! We LOVED Cyrano! The acting was superb, the choreography of the fencing scenes was Most impressive and the play itself was delightful!

]]> Comment on Cyrano Audience Feedback by Marc http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/03/cyrano-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-26034 Marc Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:26:44 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1424#comment-26034 My wife and I were so thrilled with the Arden production of Cyrano that we purchased tickets for my son and his friend to attend the following night. The acting, costumes, translation and action scenes were all first-rate! My wife and I were so thrilled with the Arden production of Cyrano that we purchased tickets for my son and his friend to attend the following night. The acting, costumes, translation and action scenes were all first-rate!

]]> Comment on Cyrano Audience Feedback by Jon Pastor http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/03/cyrano-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-26026 Jon Pastor Sun, 08 Apr 2012 03:48:14 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1424#comment-26026 We have seen Cyrano performed before, and this production outshone the other in all respects. The new translation manages to seem consistent with the period setting <em>and</em> a modern take on the play -- quite a feat. I disagree with the posters who complained about the ending: it felt quite right to me. All of the actors were excellent, adapting perfectly to the wide variation in tone and mood in the play, from tragedy to physical comedy. Eric Hissum's performance was a <em>tour de force</em>: the other Cyrano was quite good, but Eric brought every aspect of the character to life in a way I'd not seen before. Bravo to all. We have seen Cyrano performed before, and this production outshone the other in all respects. The new translation manages to seem consistent with the period setting and a modern take on the play — quite a feat. I disagree with the posters who complained about the ending: it felt quite right to me.

All of the actors were excellent, adapting perfectly to the wide variation in tone and mood in the play, from tragedy to physical comedy. Eric Hissum’s performance was a tour de force: the other Cyrano was quite good, but Eric brought every aspect of the character to life in a way I’d not seen before.

Bravo to all.

]]> Comment on Clybourne Park Audience Feedback by Matthew Lyons http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/02/clybourne-park-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-25965 Matthew Lyons Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:08:49 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1391#comment-25965 My partner and I were very disappointed by this play. Racism (including liberal hypocrisy) is a huge issue in this country, but <i>Clybourne Park</i> doesn't offer anything new on the subject -- just shallow stereotypes, characters who are easy to despise, and predictable lines ("half of my friends are black"). In the Arden's production, unimaginative writing was compounded by heavy-handed directing. Hansberry's characters in <i>Raisin</i> struggled and grew; Norris's characters here just sink into ugliness. My partner and I were very disappointed by this play. Racism (including liberal hypocrisy) is a huge issue in this country, but Clybourne Park doesn’t offer anything new on the subject — just
shallow stereotypes, characters who are easy to despise, and predictable lines (“half of my friends are black”). In the Arden’s production, unimaginative writing was compounded by heavy-handed directing. Hansberry’s characters in Raisin struggled and grew; Norris’s characters here just sink into ugliness.

]]> Comment on Cyrano Audience Feedback by Nancy http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/03/cyrano-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-25960 Nancy Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:53:16 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1424#comment-25960 We were looking forward to Cyrano but having just seen Clybourne Park a second time, I was concerned I would be disappointed (since Clybourne Park was one of my all time favorite Arden productions). But Cyrano was brilliant and the play was remarkably adapted and staged by Michael Hollinger and Aaron Posner. Eric Hissum who i had seen in August, embodied Cyrano as I would think Rostand imagined Cyrano to be on stage. The essence of this play for me is about the beauty of language, and how words can transform relationships. And in my mind, Eric transformed the story as I had never seen it. But all of the actors were equally strong and balanced and together formed an inspiring ensemble, proving again that the Arden is aging beautifully! . We were looking forward to Cyrano but having just seen Clybourne Park a second time, I was concerned I would be disappointed (since Clybourne Park was one of my all time favorite Arden productions). But Cyrano was brilliant and the play was remarkably adapted and staged by Michael Hollinger and Aaron Posner. Eric Hissum who i had seen in August, embodied Cyrano as I would think Rostand imagined Cyrano to be on stage. The essence of this play for me is about the beauty of language, and how words can transform relationships. And in my mind, Eric transformed the story as I had never seen it. But all of the actors were equally strong and balanced and together formed an inspiring ensemble, proving again that the Arden is aging beautifully! .

]]> Comment on Cyrano Audience Feedback by martin http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/03/cyrano-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-25912 martin Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:55:26 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1424#comment-25912 I agree with all of those who thoroughly enjoyed the production of Cyrano. I do have one negative comment which was also expressed by others around me. The second act was too long and consequently was too slow. Cyrano has to die much earlier for a crisper better ending. We are Arden members for 15 years and yours is our favorite company. I agree with all of those who thoroughly enjoyed the production of Cyrano. I do have one negative comment which was also expressed by others around me. The second act was too long and consequently was too slow. Cyrano has to die much earlier for a crisper better ending.
We are Arden members for 15 years and yours is our favorite company.

]]> Comment on Cyrano Audience Feedback by Gail http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/03/cyrano-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-25905 Gail Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:20:47 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1424#comment-25905 Though I majored in French and English, I never read Cyrano, saw the play, or watched the movie all the way through. The Arden production is terrific--perfectly pitched modern words, well-delivered, skilled swordplay, staged to make use of all the levels, and well-paced--all the way up to almost the end. The final scene worked for me to a point(so to speak--I cried--but it delivered its message what felt to me like a long time before it ended. I write only because I enjoyed the play so much for so long. Is there an opportunity to revisit the last scene at this time? Though I majored in French and English, I never read Cyrano, saw the play, or watched the movie all the way through. The Arden production is terrific–perfectly pitched modern words, well-delivered, skilled swordplay, staged to make use of all the levels, and well-paced–all the way up to almost the end. The final scene worked for me to a point(so to speak–I cried–but it delivered its message what felt to me like a long time before it ended. I write only because I enjoyed the play so much for so long. Is there an opportunity to revisit the last scene at this time?

]]> Comment on Clybourne Park Audience Feedback by Marie http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/02/clybourne-park-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-25867 Marie Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:14:30 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1391#comment-25867 My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Claybourne Park. All the actors embraced their roles and gave very strong performances. The story of these families was at times happy or sad but was very real to us. The play really addressed how we as a community can brush aside matters of importance when they make us uncomfortable. It showcased how ead we choose to sugarcoat things and make a new reality which removes our unease and discomfort. We love the Arden and look forward to your next production. Marie, Philadelphia My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Claybourne Park. All the actors embraced their roles and gave very strong performances. The story of these families was at times happy or sad but was very real to us. The play really addressed how we as a community can brush aside matters of importance when they make us uncomfortable. It showcased how ead we choose to sugarcoat things and make a new reality which removes our unease and discomfort. We love the Arden and look forward to your next production. Marie, Philadelphia

]]> Comment on Clybourne Park Audience Feedback by Sharon Bryers http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2012/02/clybourne-park-audience-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-25839 Sharon Bryers Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:39:31 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=1391#comment-25839 I thought the play was well done, loved the cast, the diaglogue, the set. Having not read about the play before hand, and considering the intensity of the issue about the son's suicide, I expected some sort of connection and/or resolution in the second act. I thought the play was well done, loved the cast, the diaglogue, the set. Having not read about the play before hand, and considering the intensity of the issue about the son’s suicide, I expected some sort of connection and/or resolution in the second act.

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